The UEP Voice Box

Episode 14 - The Sensitive Larynx: Persistent Throat Symptoms with Dr. Daniel Novakovic

The Sensitive Larynx: Persistent Throat Symptoms with Dr. Daniel Novakovic In this UEP Voicebox episode, Professor Daniel Novakovic joins us from Sydney to explain the concept of laryngeal sensory dysfunction. The symptoms present may be chronic cough, throat irritation, and inducible laryngeal obstruction — but his latest research is opening new treatment options. He discusses diagnostic tools (history, cough threshold testing, superior laryngeal nerve blocks), therapeutic options including neural modulators, speech therapy, and the emerging use of supraglottic botulinum toxin. We are also joined by his patient, Katie Gladstone, as she shares her recovery story. Thank you for listening to the UEP Voice Box! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on your favorite podcast channels, and share wth your colleagues and friends.

Episode 13 - Voice Under the Knife: Operating on Artistic Voices with Dr. Robert T. Sataloff

Episode 13 - Dr. Robert T. Sataloff: Voice Under the Knife: Operating on Artistic Voices What happens when a performer’s most vital instrument requires surgical intervention? The decision to undergo surgery can often be career-defining. So when should a professional Voice user take that risk?  In this episode of The Artistic Voice (a special sub-series of The UEP Voice Box), we speak to a true expert of vocal surgery: Dr. Robert T. Sataloff. Dr. Shiying Hey talks with Dr. Robert Sataloff about the unique challenges of voice surgery for artistic voice users. The conversation covers surgical principles for phonomicrosurgery, delicate tissue handling, approaches to scar management (steroids, fat and grafts), timing and postoperative rehabilitation, and the guiding principles when performing surgery on an Artistic Voice. Other things to note in this conversation: ✨ The High Stakes of Phonosurgery: Why operating on the artistic voice demands an entirely different level of precision, micro-dissection, and an intimate understanding of the vocal fold's layered architecture. ✨ A Comprehensive Care Team: Exploring why the best surgical outcomes rely on an ecosystem of experts—combining the surgeon's blade with the nuanced ear of singing voice specialists and speech-language pathologists. ✨ Preserving the Invisible Instrument: How protecting a performer's livelihood requires balancing different treatment options and a deep commitment to preserving vocal flexibility, timbre, and emotional range. True vocal longevity relies on setting healthy boundaries in work and rest, plus knowing when to seek specialized care.  🎧 Listen to the full episode of the UEP Voice Box here and on Spotify, Amazon and Apple Podcasts.   #TheArtisticVoice #VoiceMedicine #Phonosurgery #DrRobertSataloff #UEPVoiceBox #VocalHealth #ArtisticVoice #Phoniatrics

Episode 12: Blue Laser in Voice Surgery: Precision, Innovation & Outcomes with Prof. Markus Hess

Blue Laser in Voice Surgery: Precision, Innovation & Outcomes with Prof. Markus Hess   What is blue laser and how are the world's top surgeons using it in voice surgery? In Episode 12 of The UEP Voice Box, Prof. Markus Hess shares his expert insights on the blue laser revolution and what's next for precision phonosurgery. Listen as our host Dr. Shiying Hey interviews Professor Markus Hess in Hamburg, about the evolution and clinical use of lasers in voice surgery, with a focus on the emergence and advantages of the blue laser. This in-depth conversation covers the evolution of blue laser, to precision and safety, to Prof. Hess' thoughts on the future of laser surgery adoption and AI. Learn about: * The evolution of laser technology in voice surgery * The emergence and unique advantages of blue laser systems * How precision and safety are enhanced with this innovative approach * Prof. Hess' expert perspectives on the future of laser surgery adoption * The role of AI in advancing voice surgical techniques We hope you enjoy listening! If so, let us know in the comments below. Thank you for your continued support of the UEP Voicebox.

Episode 11 - The Art & Science of Caring for A Performer's Voice with Prof. Kittie Verdolini Abbott

Welcome to the second episode of our special series, The Artistic Voice! This is a sub-series of the UEP Voice Box exploring the care, challenges, and science behind the professional voice.   Today, we are joined by Professor Kittie Verdolini-Abbott, a world leader in voice science, vocal pedagogy, and a distinguished clinician-scientist. Drawing on her unique journey from professional singer to pioneering researcher, Professor Verdolini-Abbott offers a rare integration of artistry, physiology, and behavioural science.   The conversation explores how performers can safely approach vocal extremes, explaining why pushing pitch, loudness, or intensity places the voice at biomechanical boundaries—and how technique, training, and restraint are essential for vocal longevity.   She also challenges traditional ideas around voice rest, sharing compelling research showing how specific vocal exercises, particularly gentle high-pitch and resonant activation, can actively reduce inflammation and support vocal fold healing.   Moving beyond acute injury, the episode examines chronic vocal conditions. She asks questions such as, how might behavioural voice therapy help prevent further damage while supporting healthier tissue remodelling over time?   This discussion challenges us to rethink vocal training through the lens of motor learning!   We hope you enjoy this episode of the UEP Voicebox, essential listening for performers, voice teachers, speech and language therapists, and clinicians interested in sustainable voice use grounded in the latest scientific research.

Episode 10: FGF Therapy in Voice Regeneration with Dr. Shigeru Hirano - The Next Chapter & Beyond

Episode 10: FGF Therapy in Voice Regeneration with Dr. Shigeru Hirano - The Next Chapter and Beyond We're excited to share the latest episode of the UEP Voice Box podcast! In our 10th episode, host Dr. Shiying Hey chats with Dr. Shigeru Hirano, Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. Professor Hirano joins us from Japan to discuss his innovative work with basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) for vocal fold regeneration. This treatment was originally developed for skin regeneration, but he pioneered its use in treatments for voice disorders. This regenerative approach represents a breakthrough for patients, offering new hope where traditional treatments have fallen short. The episode explores the evolution of regenerative medicine in laryngology, as Professor Hirano shares insights into current research plus the exciting possibilities and challenges that lie ahead in this field. "We didn't have any good treatments for atrophy or scar one or two decades ago," Dr. Hirano notes, "But now everything has changed, and the regenerative approach is now possible." While acknowledging that regenerative medicine still has limitations, he believes it represents a true breakthrough in 21st-century treatment for patients with severe vocal disorders. This episode is particularly relevant for clinicians treating increasingly aged populations, where vocal fold atrophy, sulcus, and scarring are becoming more common. +++ Update: We've expanded our podcasts on several platforms and are thrilled that our network of listeners around the world is growing. As of this episode, you have tuned in from over 65 countries! Thank you for your presence and continued support. Please do share the podcast, leave a comment below, or rate us to let us know your feedback. Visit www.uepvoicebox.com [http://www.uepvoicebox.com] to hear the conversation and learn from more renowned guests on The UEP Voice Box.